THE company hoping to build a new indoor ski centre in High Wycombe says it is taking extra fire precautions after the previous building burnt down.

The Snowdome Group submitted plans for the new facility in Abbey Barn Lane in January and if it gets the go-ahead a bigger and better water supply will be installed at the site.

Martin Smith, managing director of Snowdome Group, said this is being done as firefighters had difficulty tackling the blaze in November 2005, which destroyed Wycombe Summit, because of a lack of hydrants at the rural site.

The new buildings, which will house an ice rink, a real snow slope, climbing wall and a function room, will also be better protected against fire.

If the plans are passed by Wycombe District Council, which is due to discuss them by the end of April, it is hoped the 14,000 square foot site will re-open in September 2008. There has been a lot of support for the plans, but the Environment Agency has objected to them with concerns it could increase flood risk to the surrounding area.

Although the site is in a low risk flood zone the agency is worried the plans could add to the amount of rain running off the hill. It has asked the Snowdome Group to address this and show it can be controlled efficiently.

Mr Martin said: "We have got more information to provide to the environment agency. Our level of information for the environment agency needs to be greater in detail and that's currently being worked upon."

He hopes once the agency has that information it will withdraw its objection. He was aso encouraged that so many people had taken time to voice their support for the plans.

"We are entirely confident that it will be a success.

"The planning hurdle has been the focus of a great deal of attention," he added.

"If we get planning it's all do-able thereafter. We're just really excited about it. We're designing this to provide great facilities for the community."

The new snowdome could also feature a green roof, which will be able to grow vegetation.

Small flowering, drought tolerant plants will be able to take root on top of the buildings, eventually turning their roofs green.